UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Friday progress made in negotiations to end the post-election political strife in Kenya, according to DPA. "The understanding reached by the parties to the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process are important steps toward addressing the most urgent issues that led to the current situation," Ban said in a statement. He called for the protection of civilians and full respect of human rights in Kenya following the deaths of more than 1,000 people from violence that erupted in December after political parties disputed elections results. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was asked by the African Union to mediate the dispute between the government and opposition parties and the two sides had accepted the first steps in the process of restoring political normalcy.
